Beauty product expiration

Holding onto a foundation that smells bad because it’s pricey? Think again. Think about the irritation it can cause to your skin. If you’re curious about when it’s time to toss your beauty products, listen to these tips to help you say farewell.

In general, you can tell if your cosmetics are going bad when:

• They smell bad
• The texture changes. For example, if the texture becomes thicker or thinner
• There is a change in color
• They grow fungus, yuck!
• The product is separating

In addition, certain beauty products have specific expiration dates:

Skin Care

• Face/Eye Creams: 1 year
• Sunscreens: 1 to 2 years (Be sure to check the expiration date)
• Granular scrubs: 2 years
• Acne treatments: 3 to 6 months
• Hydroquinone cream: 2 to 3 months or when the color changes
• Face masks/Face peels: 3 months

Cosmetics

• Mascara/Liquid liners: Every 1 to 2 months
• Foundation: 6 to 9 months. Be sure to smell and check for product separation
• Lipsticks/Lip gloss: 1 to 2 years
• Eye pencils/Lip pencils: 3 to 5 years. In order for them to stay clean, sharpen
  them before each use
• Eye shadows/Blush: 2 years (For cream blush/shadows give it 6 to 9 months)
• Face powder: 1 to 2 years

Hair Products

• Shampoos/Conditioners/Shower gel: 2 to 3 years
• Hair styling products: 1 year (After 1 year check the smell, texture and color for
  changes).  Unopened 2 to 3 years.

Lastly, to maintain a lasting shelf life use common sense. Keep your makeup brushes clean by washing them once a week and spot cleaning them after each use. You can also try using clean makeup sponges to avoid the contamination. Keep the lids closed tight on your products. Store your products in dark, cool cabinets and avoid direct sunlight. When applying liquids and creams, use a spoon or pour the product into your palm before applying to skin.

(Photo: Shutterstock)